Time to lower the voting age?

Despite representing New Zealand at a recent UN Youth summit, 15-year-old Azaria Howell won't get to have her say in the coming election.

With more young candidates and voices emerging in New Zealand politics, is it time we as a nation took a serious look at lowering the voting age?

As a young person who cares passionately about politics, I support the idea of changing the voting age to 16. I believe we need our voices heard.

Even with the current voting limit of 18, some are already predicting a political "youthquake" for the coming general election. Imagine the impact if the tens of thousands of voters aged 16 and 17 were added to the electoral roll.

If the voting age was lowered lowered to 16, politicians would be far more likely to take youth opinions and issues seriously. Under the current system, the issues that matter to us are woefully under-represented.

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